Ninety Two
Ash
“Are you having second thoughts, baby?” I brushed my hands over her smooth blonde hair.
Amber shivered as she stared out the window.
The rain had slowed to a light sprinkle. I glimpsed at myself in the rearview mirror as we waited for her family to show up. I’d just had my dark brown hair cut yesterday. A touch of silver was showing at the temples and I’d debated getting it colored, but my hairdresser had assured me it made me look even more debonair and handsome. I guessed for being forty years old, I looked good. I’d had my goatee trimmed slightly and Amber told me my hard muscular chest was amazing for a man of my age, of any age. My eyes were a deep blue lined with lashes my mother used to claim were too lush for a boy.
“No,” she whispered.
It was the morning of her brother’s memorial. He’d been buried months ago, but the family had wanted to have a memorial for him back in Chicago. Despite all the evil he’d committed against her, Amber had wanted to go.
Of course, no one knew it was my brother who had killed Mark. Amber and I had vowed to keep him safe and protected. My attorneys had managed to keep the police at bay and we were no longer suspects in Mark’s murder. However, I knew that the cops were highly suspicious of Ayden. I’d put Ayden somewhere safe so he wouldn’t face any charges.
After all, family was family. And Mark didn’t deserve the title of brother. He’d been an atrocious monster to Amber, abusing her from the time she was young. He was a filthy animal and a stalker.
And my brother had killed him to protect us.
We hadn’t gone to Mark’s funeral. At the time, his stalking and terrorism of us was too fresh, too traumatic for Amber to handle. Now that several months had passed, Amber felt as though she was ready to make peace with her past and with her family.
“Amber, the memorial starts in five minutes.” I wrapped my arm around her waist.
“I’m ready.” She smiled turning from the window.
We walked out of the hotel and rode in silence to cemetery. Her family was meeting us there.
As the limousine pulled up to the gravesite, I saw Amber’s sister and her other brothers standing around. They all held umbrellas over their heads trying to keep the pouring rain from soaking them. Amber’s sister gave her a light smile.
The driver raced around in the rain to open our door. He held an umbrella out for Amber.
She took it as she greeted her sister, “Heather, it’s been so long.” They embraced.
I stood huddled next to her. I had only met her family a few times and each time it hadn’t gone well. I had a feeling that they blamed me for all of Amber’s recent troubles. After Amber’s father death last year, the truth about Mark had come out. Her youngest brother, Damon refused to believe it, but the rest of her siblings finally accepted that their brother had been abusing Amber for years. His death had come as welcome news to all of them except for Damon. He and Mark had been very close. I was relieved to see he hadn’t shown up today.
“Too long. You look great, Amber.” Heather took her hand squeezing it as we walked over to Mark’s grave.
Mark Scott Michaelson
Son, Brother, Friend
I had a strong urge to kick the headstone, but restrained myself. The rest of the family knew he’d been murdered, but didn’t know the exact circumstances surrounding his death. In short, they were unaware my brother had killed him.
A minister wearing a dark blue suit arrived along with several friends of the family.
We all bowed our heads as a short prayer was offered.
Amber shifted her weight from foot to foot as the rain continued to pour overhead. A loud burst of thunder then a crackle of lightening caused the minister to shorten the service. The dirt surrounding the grave was still uncovered with grass and was quickly becoming slick mud.
“I can’t believe he’s gone,” Amber’s eldest brother, Mick said shaking his head. “I know he hurt you, Amber, but he was still our brother.”
“That’s why I’m here, Mick. I wanted to pay my respects to him only because he was family. My therapist suggested I come.” Amber held her head high.
I felt so proud of her. I knew how hard this was for her. I slipped my arm about her waist.
As we filed back to our cars, Amber stopped in front of her father’s grave. She put the rose she’d been carrying on top of it. She then kissed her fingers and touched the marble headstone. “Love you, Daddy,” she whispered.
Saddened by today’s events, I recalled my own father’s funeral and how broken I’d been that day. Even though Mark’s death was no loss for her, I was certain that being in the cemetery and having to go through the memorial service resurrected painful memories of her father’s death. “Are you okay, Amber? Do you still want to have dinner with them?”
She nodded blotting her eyes with a tissue. “Of course. I want to spend some time with them. They are my family.”
“I’m your family too, baby.” I kissed her hand.
She smiled at me then laid her head on my shoulder.
“Always,” I whispered.